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Conceal and Carry Bill could affect campus, surrounding cities

Wisconsin residents will find out on Tuesday if conceal and carry will be the new law, when the Assembly votes on whether to override Gov. Jim Doyle’s veto. The bill’s passage would grant students the right to lawfully carry a firearm in some public places after obtaining a permit and going through the propoer training required under the law.  

Likewise, many students would be able to obtain a weapon’s permit and carry a handgun if the override is successful, a thought that worries some University of Wisconsin students.

“If you have a gun, chances are you’re more likely to use it,” UW student Laura Nelson said. “There’s already been a lot of violence recently with the Ogg Hall and University Square attacks, so I don’t think adding more handguns is what we need.”

Campus security officials also are hesitant about the possible effects of the bill, if passed.

“I know this bill will not be beneficial in our policing efforts on campus,” Sgt. Jerome Annatto, Assistant to the Chief of UW Police, said. “You always run the risk of walking on rocky ground anytime fire-arms are introduced into a campus environment. The potential for violence increases when more people are armed.”

However, some students would like the ability to protect themselves from possible attackers with a firearm.

“Personally, if a 250-pound guy is trying to attack me, I’d like the option of being able to defend myself any way I can,” UW student Jessica Jensen said, who has taken steps to protect herself by taking self-defense classes. She currently carries pepper spray with her for further protection.

Concealed weapons opponents contend this legislation negatively impacts the ability of law enforcement officials to do their job effectively. Under the proposed law, police officers would not be informed as to whether a vehicle’s driver has a concealed weapons permit.

“The inability for officers to know who has a permitted weapon is very challenging,” Casey Perry, Director of Wisconsin State Troopers, said. “This bill eliminates knowing the whole story when an officer approaches a vehicle.”

But some who support a concealed weapons law say that many of the fears surrounding the legislation are unfounded.

“There is a long laundry list of places where you could not carry a firearm into,” Jim Fendry of the Wisconsin Pro-Gun Movement said. “To obtain a valid handgun permit, an individual needs to pass not only a criminal background check, but a handgun safety class which explains specifically where handguns are allowed.”

Fendry and other supporters of the law have joined forces with Senate and Assembly Republicans in hopes of passing the controversial conceal and carry legislation.

Wisconsin would become the 47th state to pass concealed handgun legislation if the override is successful.